Landrieu hammering Cassidy on banking agency

BATON ROUGE - U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu is making a campaign issue out of a congressional fight over a banking agency targeted for elimination by conservative Republicans.

The Democratic incumbent supports the Export-Import Bank, which helps finance exports of U.S. companies. Landrieu says it promotes trade, creates jobs and helps small businesses.

She's been hammering her Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, to state a position on whether to renew the bank's charter, which expires in September.

Cassidy is hedging - raising questions about the worth of the Export-Import Bank and saying reforms are needed before he'd support re-authorization. He says the bank costs taxpayers $200 million a year and largely benefits big, already profitable corporations.

The issue puts Cassidy in a tough spot, choosing sides between establishment Republicans and tea party groups.